Barbara Dane earned wide public attention as a jazz and blues singer performing with the likes of Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Memphis Slim, and Muddy Waters. Jazz critic Leonard Feather called her "Bessie Smith in stereo" and Time magazine said she had "a voice as pure, rich, and rare as a 20 karat diamond." A tireless worker in the movements for peace and justice, she took her songs everywhere from the Mississippi Freedom Schools and the movement against the Vietnam War to the first Women's Music festival, and as the first American singer to tour Cuba after the revolution.

Barbara puts the roots of her music and activism in perspective: "(The music) born out of the worst conditions one people can force upon another, out of slavery and exploitation, were given to the world in the spirit of turning madness into sanity, pain into joy, bondage into freedom, and enmity into unity. This spirit is something to be learned from, shared, and spread as far as it will go!"

Barbara performs songs from her recent album, What Are You Gonna Do When There Ain't No Jazz? backed by San Francisco Traditional Jazz Revival stars -- Bob Mielke on trombone, Richard Hadlock on reeds, Mark Caparone on trumpet, Clint Baker on guitar, Bill Maginnis on drums, bassist Pete Allen,and pianist Ray Skjelbred. Barbara also showcases songs from Cuba's nueva cancion movement as well as blues and gospel favorites backed by Ellen Hoffman on piano, Barrett Nelson and Johnny Harper on guitars, Bruce Barthol on electric bass, Greg Landau on tres, Oakland's renowned gospel trio, the Andrews Sisters, and two very special guest Barbara's two sons, Oklahoma bluesman Jesse (Nick) Cahn and Pablo Menendez, one of the leading lights of Cuban music.